Geranium plant &#34;Calypso&#34;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new distinct cultivar of geranium, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized as being particularly well adapted to both commercial greenhouse production and garden performance, and possessing unique flavonol and anthocyanin profiles, double flowers and clear floral color.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of geranium Pelargonium×hortorum called "Calypso". The cultivar is particularly well adapted to both commercial greenhouse production and garden performance. The novel characteristics of this cultivar are double flowers and clear floral color. The cultivar is further characterized by unique biochemical fingerprint profiles.

The cultivar was developed from an organized, scientifically designed breeding program carried out at the Department of Horticulture, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 and specifically resulted from selection of the progeny of the selfing of geranium cultivar "Graeffin Mariza". The selection was asexually propagated by cuttings and the reproductions ran true.

With reference to the detailed description of the cultivar which follows, the test plant was grown in a glass greenhouse in full natural light, at a night temperature of 60° F., and a day temperature of 75° F. Soilless medium was fertilized constantly with 300 ppm N-K. Color readings were taken under cool white fluorescent light at 220 foot candles and color identification was by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts, except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates in color the cultivar including foliage and flowers.

FIG. 2 illustrates the anthocyanin profile obtained from HPLC. Quantitative values are found in the tables. Analyses included a single peak that represented both pelargonidin and petunidin 3,5-diglucosides. Corrections were made in accompanying tables.

Peak No.

1. Delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside

2. Cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside

3. Pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside

4. Peonidin 3,5-diglucoside

5. Malvidin 3,5-diglucoside

FIG. 3 illustrates the flavonol profile obtained from HPLC. Quantitative values are found in the tables.

Peak No.

1. Quercetin 3-rhamnosylgalactoside

2. Quercetin 3-rutinoside

3. Quercetin 3-galactoside

4. Quercetin 3-glucoside

5. Kaempferol 3-rhamnosylgalactoside

6. Kaempferol 3-galactoside

7. Kaempferol 3-rutinoside

8. Kaempferol 3-glucoside; Kaempferol 7-glucoside; Quercetin 3-rhamnoside

9. Kaempferol 3-xyloside

10. Kaempferol 3-arabinoside

11. Kaempferol 3-rhamnoside

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum.

Tradename.--#712 (80-205-3)="Calypso".

Form: Semi-dwarf; free basal branching; comparatively compact growth habit; flowers close to foliage; free flowering; early.

Height: 24.0-30.0 cm.

Growth: Relatively short internodes, self branching from base; faster growth than standard.

Leaves:

Size.--8.0-14.0 cm.

Shape.--Reniform, variously lobed.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Pubescent, dull; veins recessed and prominent.

Color.--Top: Dark zone band; Fan 3, yellow-green group 143-A (RHSCC); Fan 3, yellow-green group 144-A (RHSCC). Bottom: Fan 3, green group, 143-C (RHSCC).

Ribs and veins.--Palmate veins.

Petioles: Fan 3, green group, 143-C (RHSCC).

Stem:

Color. --Same as petioles.

Internodes.--2.0-3.0 cm.

THE BUD

Shape: Upright, hemispherical.

Size: 2.0-3.0 cm diameter.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Continuous, upright, double, non-shattering, hemispherical.

Size: 11.0-14.0 cm across.

Borne: Umbel; florets on pedicel; pedicels on peduncle.

Florets:

Forms.--Petals irregular, twisted and upright, full double.

Color.--Top: Variable with inner "V" of darker color and outer "V" of lighter. Inner `V`:=Fan 1, red group, 55-A (RHSCC). Outer `V`:=Fan 1, red group, 52-C (RHSCC). Base `V`:=Fan 1, red group, 41-C (RHSCC). Bottom of Petal: Quite variable; top half mottled=Fan 1, red group 49-A and C (RHSCC); base=Fan 1, red group, 41-C.

Petals.--20-25 (including petaloids) irregular, twisted and upright; reflexed.

Size.--3.0-4.0 cm.

Texture and appearance.--Irregular surface, full reflexed.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--Not distinguishable from petals.

Shape.--Not distinguishable from petals.

Color.--Not distinguishable from petals.

Pedicel: 4.0-5.0 cm in length.

Color.--Fan 3, green group 143-C (RHSCC).

Peduncle: Arises from node; opposed to leaf petiole.

Length.--20.0-24.0 cm.

Color.--Fan 3, yellow-green group 143-C (RHSCC).

Persistence: Persistent, non-shattering.

Disease resistance: Not known; favorable in outdoor trials.

Lasting quality: Excellent; 3 weeks or longer.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: 2-5.

Anthers.--Some are fertile; some are not; some are partially developed; tan or light brown in color.

Filaments.--Flat or semi-flat, some ribbon-like, some petal-like; 0.5 cm long.

Pollen.--Light orange.

Staminodes. --Up to 5 in number; some fused and some petal-like.

Pistils:

Number.--1 with 5-parted stigma.

Length.--1.0 cm.

Stigma.--5-parted; reddish-purple, reflexed.

Style.--1: 2.0 mm long; reddish-purple.

Ovaries: 1: 6.0 mm long; green; pubescent; 5-lobed.

Fruit: None.

BIOCHEMICAL PROFILES

In recent years, biochemical analysis has played an increasing role in plant systematics and taxonomy. In order to further characterize the cultivar, flavonols and anthocyanins were extracted from the florets and subjected to analysis by high pressure liquid chomatography (HPLC). Background information supporting the validity of the HPLC technique can be found in an article by Asen & Griesbach ("High Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Flavonoids in Geranium Florets as an Adjunct for Cultivar Identification", S. Asen and R. Griesbach, J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 108(5):845-850 (1983)), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, the method for performing the analysis was carried out as follows:

Flavonoid extraction.

The sample size for flavonoid identification consisted of the petals from six florets just after anthesis. Three different samples were collected from each cultivar and handled separately for analysis. The petals were weighed, ground in 20 ml of 1% HCl-MeOH with a mortar and pestle, filtered through one layer of Whatman #1 filter paper, and washed with 1% HCl-MeOH. The volume was adjusted to 90 ml and 2-15 ml aliquots were removed for the analysis and handled separately. Each aliquot was taken to dryness at 40° C. in vacuo. All traces of HCl were removed by azeotropic distillation with MeOH. One of the dried extracts was reconstituted in 2 ml of 1% HCl-MeOH and was used for anthocyanin analysis. The other was reconstituted in 2 ml of MeOH and was used for flavonol analysis. Each sample was stored at -34° C. until analyzed.

HPLC.

Samples were analyzed on a Waters High Performance Liquid Chromatograph equipped with an automatic injection system (Waters Assoc. Wisp 71OA), dual pumps (Waters Assoc. Model 6000A), solvent programmer (Waters Assoc. Model 600), data module (Waters Assoc.), variable wavelength detector (Waters Assoc. Model 480), and a C₁₈ column (25 cm×0.46 cm and 5 μm particle size, Supelco).

Most of the flavonol compounds were separated by a linear gradient of 8% to 23% pump B over 55 min (pump A=1% triethylamine buffered to pH 3.0 with H₃ PO₄ (TEAP); pump B=CH₃ CN) at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min and a chart speed of 0.5 cm/min. Detector was at 340 nm.

The anthocyanins were resolved by a linear gradient of 30% to 50% pump B over 40 min (pump A=1.5% H₃ PO₄ ; pump B=20% HOAc+25% CH₃ CN+55% of 1.5% H₃ PO₄) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and a chart speed of 0.5 cm/min. Detection was at 546 nm utilizing a fixed wavelength detector.

The flavonoids were quantified by injecting standards and comparing their peak areas with those from the plant samples. The results are expressed as μg of flavonoid/g fresh weight of plant material.

Results

Chromatographic profiles for anthocyanins and flavonols are presented in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively; quantification of these profiles by comparison to standards is presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

The anthocyanins petunidin and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside were not resolved by the solvent system used. Past research has shown only negligible amounts of petunidin 3,5-diglucoside to be present in geranium florets compared to pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside. In light of this, the peak corresponding to petunidin and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside was quantified as pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside.

Kaempferol 3-rhamnoside could not be quantitated for several cultivars and is designated as ND (not determined). The chromatograms showed a small, wide peak in the region of elution for this compound. If a substantial amount of this compound were present, a distinct peak appeared but minute quantities, if present, were masked.

Other barriers to quantitation of several flavonols existed. Kaempferol 3-glucoside, kaempferol 7-glucoside, and quercetin 3-rhamnoside all had the same retention time under these conditions. If these compounds are needed to distinguish between cultivars, they would have to be separated by other solvents or column types. Quercetin 3-xyloside appeared in several of the comparisons, but standards were not available to quantify this compound.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Anthocyanin concentration in petals of geranium florets                        μg anthocyanidin 3,5-diglucoside/g fresh wt.                                                          Pelar-       Mal- To-                                Cultivar                                                                              Delphinidin                                                                              Cyanidin gonidin                                                                              Peonidin                                                                              vidin                                                                               tal                                ______________________________________                                         712    --.sup.z  27       595   505    t.sup.y                                                                             1132                               ______________________________________                                          .sup.z -- = not detected                                                       .sup.y t = trace <10 μg.                                              

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Flavonol concentration in petals of geranium florets                           μg/g fresh wt.                                                                   Qu3-.sup.z                                                                         Qu3-                                                                              Qu3-                                                                              Qu3-                                                                              Km3-                                                                               Km3-                                                                               Km3-                                                                               Km3-                                                                               Km3-                                                                               Km3-                                     Cultivar                                                                            rhagal                                                                             rut                                                                               gal                                                                               glu                                                                               rhagal                                                                             gal rut xyl arab                                                                               rha Total                                __________________________________________________________________________     712  t.sup.y                                                                            t  t  15 19  70  84  10  64  ND.sup.x                                                                           277                                  __________________________________________________________________________      .sup.z Abbreviations: Km = Kaempferol; Qu = Quercetin; arab = arabinoside      gal = galactoside; glu = glucoside; rha = rhamnoside; rhagal =                 rhamnosylgalactoside; rut = rutinoside; xyl = xyloside.                        .sup.y t = trace <10 μg.                                                    .sup.x ND = not determined.                                               

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct cultivar of geranium, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized as being particularly well adapted to both commercial greenhouse production and garden performance, and possessing unique flavonol and anthocyanin profiles, double flowers and clear floral color. 